‘Green’ light will kickstart port expansion plans

Transnet hints at generator as electricity concerns hit perishable industry RAY SMUTS TRANSNET HAS hinted at the possible acquisition of a powerful generator for the Cape Town container terminal in the light of the Mother City’s recent electricity supply crisis. What is more, some experts assert electricity problems are likely to extend to other parts of the country during the coming winter months while others suggest the power malaise could continue well into next year. “Such a generator is likely to cost around R40 million and Transnet is currently examining the issue,” says port manager Sanjay Govan. Watching four German war ships glide silently out to sea, bound for the Indian Ocean islands, the lengthy delay in receiving a Record of Decision on the proposed 300-metre, R2.4 billion, extension of the container terminal, is clearly uppermost in his mind. What may well be delaying environmental affairs minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk in going public on the matter is that it has now emerged he decided toward the end of last year to appoint consultants in Pretoria and Cape Town to conduct their own investigation into the project. Says Govan: “That appointment should have been made at least three months earlier but the consultants have since handed in their reports, to which we have not been privy, nor has the department (of environmental affairs) shared the information with us. “Let there be no doubt that we wish to do our best to get the container terminal extension off the ground. In fact, our documents are all ready and if the Record of Decision favours the extension we will go out within the very next week or two for tenders to start the work.” The solitary appeal against the extension was lodged by the body corporate of Woodbridge Island, an upmarket residential complex. Long-term plans have earmarked a container terminal for the port of Saldanha but it would no doubt become subject to the same kind of objections lodged against Cape Town. “If the container terminal project does not fly we will certainly challenge the minister’s decision but it would be preferable to work with the opposing groups to find out what the issues are and try to find a solution,” says Govan. If that proves unworkable, other alternatives will have to be sought, one of those bringing the container terminal plan for Saldanha forward. There is absolute unanimity within the Mother City shipping community that Cape Town urgently requires a larger container terminal, given that an increasing number of commodities, fruit a key example, are finding their way into containers. • The terminal extension would expand container capacity to 1.5 million TEUs from the current 700 000 boxes this year.